Istanbul: The first impression
No other city in the world can claim a history as rich as Istanbul. No other city has been besieged...
Buyukada, a Turkish idyll
I walked along the curving street edged along the walls dripped with Ivy. The silence was meditative, existing in such a contrast to the...
Pamukkale: The Turkish castle of cottons
Pamukkale is a unique destination. Stretching for over a mile and a half, this dazzling white trave…
History comes to life in Ephesus
I wasn’t surprised to learn that many travelers just travel to West Turkey primarily to visit...
Bowing to the Apollo in Side
I set out early to explore the outskirts of Antalya, more to be on the wheels of history strewn on the Aegean coasts. My major halt was to...
Antalya: Shades of blue
Possibly my most indelible thoughts on Antalya came, as my flight swept over Turkey’s south-western coastline to Istanbul. Looking at...
My first impressions of Israel
There would only be a handful of places that can evoke as many emotions as Israel does. Its...
Inside ancient Jaffa
It’s a balmy evening on Jaffa’s sea-front and I’m in a busy restaurant overlooking the ocean and a jumble of small fishing boats out...
Masada: A fortress of myth
In the midst of that almost Martian landscape emerges the fortress of Masada, like a mirage in the …
The gay abandon of Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv is young, hip, liberal, and a city always bombilating with energy. The high octane vibe of...
